Virginia HB1263 - Government Employee Unionization (2026)
Virginia HB1263 — Government Employee Unionization — Bill to unionize Virginia government employees and grant collective bargaining rights.
Summary
HB1263 would establish collective bargaining rights for Virginia state and local government employees, allowing them to unionize and negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions.
This is paired with several other pro-government-employee bills:
- HB164: Unlimited taxpayer-funded home purchases for government employees
- HB494: Preferential hiring in state government for federal employees laid off by DOGE
- HB915: Defers property taxes for federal employees during government shutdowns
Legislative Status
- Bill Number: HB1263
- Official Title: Public employees; repeals existing prohibition on collective bargaining, etc.
- Status (as of Feb 18, 2026): Passed House — ✅ Passed House (in Senate)
- Patron: Kathy K.L. Tran
- LIS Link: HB1263 on Virginia LIS
- Notes: Passed House